Jotham

Jehovah is perfect. (1.) The youngest of Gideon’s seventy sons. He escaped when the rest were put to death by the order of Abimelech (Judg. 9:5). When “the citizens of Shechem and the whole house of Millo” were gathered together “by the plain of the pillar” (i.e., the stone set up by Joshua, 24:26; comp. Gen. 35:4) “that was in Shechem, to make Abimelech king,” from one of the heights of Mount Gerizim he protested against their doing so in the earliest parable, that of the bramble-king. His words then spoken were prophetic. There came a recoil in the feelings of the people toward Abimelech, and then a terrible revenge, in which many were slain and the city of Shechem was destroyed by Abimelech (Judg. 9:45). Having delivered his warning, Jotham fled to Beer from the vengeance of Abimelech (9:7-21). (2.) The son and successor of Uzziah on the throne of Judah. As during his last years Uzziah was excluded from public life on account of his leprosy, his son, then twenty-five years of age, administered for seven years the affairs of the kingdom in his father’s stead (2 Chr. 26:21, 23; 27:1). After his father’s death he became sole monarch, and reigned for sixteen years (B.C. 759-743). He ruled in the fear of God, and his reign was prosperous. He was contemporary with the prophets Isaiah, Hosea, and Micah, by whose ministrations he profited. He was buried in the sepulchre of the kings, greatly lamented by the people (2 Kings 15:38; 2 Chr. 27:7-9).

(Jehovah is upright).

JO'THAM (Jehovah is upright). The youngest son of Jerubbaal, or Gideon, the only one who escaped from the massacre at Ophrah, Jud 9:5; and this he did by concealing himself. See Abimelech. The son and successor of Uzziah, or Azariah, king of Judah. 2 Kgs 15:32. He actually reigned 23 years, being associated with his father for 7 years before his death. His sole administration of the government was only for 16 years, b.c. 758-741. Comp. 2 Kgs 15:30, 2 Kgs 15:32-33. His example was holy; his reign was peaceful and prosperous, and of course beneficial to the kingdom. 2 Chr 27:2-6. One of Judah's descendants. 1 Chr 2:47.

the perfection of the Lord

JO'THAM (Jehovah is upright). The youngest son of Jerubbaal, or Gideon, the only one who escaped from the massacre at Ophrah, Jud 9:5; and this he did by concealing himself. See Abimelech. The son and successor of Uzziah, or Azariah, king of Judah. 2 Kgs 15:32. He actually reigned 23 years, being associated with his father for 7 years before his death. His sole administration of the government was only for 16 years, b.c. 758-741. Comp. 2 Kgs 15:30, 2 Kgs 15:32-33. His example was holy; his reign was peaceful and prosperous, and of course beneficial to the kingdom. 2 Chr 27:2-6. One of Judah's descendants. 1 Chr 2:47.